The successful providers were chosen on their commitment to deliver high quality services to improve outcomes.

They will work closely with the council to monitor and improve service quality.

Lead Councillor for Adult Social Care, Rachel Eden said: "The council is determined to drive up homecare services in the face of continued government cuts and as people’s needs grow.

"This new framework is an important step in implementing the council’s ethical care and dignity charters to ensure that everyone – council commissioners, providers and care workers – work together to provide the best quality homecare for residents."

Providers must comply with Reading’s local Dignity Charter to promote and protect the dignity of individuals.

It must also meet the requirements of the UNISON Ethical Care Charter to promote better quality of care and working conditions for care workers. This includes paying the living wage, proper training and payment for travel time.

People can continue with providers who are not on the new list if they are satisfied with the service and do not wish to make any changes.

However, the council will inform them of any quality issues and they can transfer to a new provider on the approved list at any time.

Mandeep Kaur Sira, chief executive of Healthwatch Reading said: "Home care is delivered to some of the most vulnerable people in our community, and they deserve a high quality service that keeps them safe, retains their dignity, helps them move on from injury or illness, and allows them to live independently at home for longer.

"This unique partnership project between Healthwatch Reading and RBC has ensured that the views of home care service users and their carers have had a direct influence over the new quality standards set for home care and also a direct say over which home agencies were selected for the new framework.

"We hope this heralds more direct public involvement in influencing future social care provision in Reading."